You have to get an FFL (I think it's a Type 07, as long as you're not planning on making armo-piercing ammo). That fee's pretty reasonable - I think it's something like $150 for three years.

You also have to register with ITAR, even if you're not going to be exporting ammo. The fee for that starts at $2250 per year.

There's also a Federal Excise Tax of 11% on all the ammo you make. I *think* the only way to avoid this is if the customer provides the brass, and you reload *those exact same cartridges* and then sell them back to the customer.

Then there's the biggie - insurance. I'll let others chime in on just how much you need, but I'd say that $1 million would be the bare minimum.

You'll also have to deal with a lot of federal, state and local regulations regarding what quantities of components you can have on hand, how they have to be stored, etcetera.

I don't know if commercial reloading can really be done on a small scale - it's always seemed like a "go big or go home" proposition to me.

My cousin ran into this exact same dilemma back in the '80s.
His solution was to open a small shop specializing in selling reloading supplies, ammo and some other stuff and offering free classes (if you bought from him) and classes with a small charge if not.

Did pretty darn well for about 14 years.

__________________
My posts are things I have tried or experienced. You may or may not wish to emulate them so read them with this in mind.Compromise means that both sides give something, but they never give, they just take.I'm The NRA!

FWIW I believe(!) that a license is required to conduct business in making ammo, but is not necessarily required simply to sell a few handloads now and then. IOW it's similar to selling the occasional gun at your local gun show.

...FWIW I believe(!) that a license is required to conduct business in making ammo, but is not necessarily required simply to sell a few handloads now and then...

Yes, but --

From what the OP wrote, it really looks like he was contemplating starting a business:

Quote:

I'm looking to provide a cartridge reloading service,...

That sound like a business to me.

__________________
"It is long been a principle of ours that one is no more armed because he has possession of a firearm than he is a musician because he owns a piano. There is no point in having a gun if you are not capable of using it skillfully." -- Jeff Cooper

FWIW I believe(!) that a license is required to conduct business in making ammo, but is not necessarily required simply to sell a few handloads now and then. IOW it's similar to selling the occasional gun at your local gun show.

Nope. If you manufacture the components or loaded ammunition and sell it, you must be licensed. Anyone can sell loaded ammo or components that they did not produce, but the manufacturer must be licensed to sell their product.

**The ATF classifies even cartridge casings and bullets as "ammunition". So, the license is required even to sell cast lead bullets.

Quote:

You also have to register with ITAR, even if you're not going to be exporting ammo. The fee for that starts at $2250 per year.

It has come to my attention, recently, that ITAR registration might not be mandatory. (Even though they claim it is.) There seems to be a loophole that allows certain types of manufacturers to skip ITAR registration, in favor of "piggy-backing" on an export company's registration. I can't find the actual regs, though. Consulting a lawyer with relevant experience would definitely be necessary (and should be done for anyone engaging in this type of business, anyway).

__________________"Such is the strange way that man works -- first he virtually destroys a species and then does everything in his power to restore it."

**The ATF classifies even cartridge casings and bullets as "ammunition". So, the license is required even to sell cast lead bullets.

Actually it was congress that did that in the Gun Control Act of 1968.

Quote:

18 U.S.C. 921(a)(17)(A)

The term “ammunition” means ammunition or cartridge cases, primers, bullets, or propellent powder designed for use in any firearm.

Not trying to be an ass but the ATF takes a lot of crap for their "interpretations" when it is simply the law. (In other areas they deserve the crap they get.)

I believe a vast majority of the GCA is a bit ridiculous. But I wouldn't manufacture ammunition for sale even if the law didn't require a license. Ammunition manufacturing exposes you to a great deal of liability (and other issues) and I'm not sure there is enough money in it to justify the hassle.

...I wouldn't manufacture ammunition for sale even if the law didn't require a license. Ammunition manufacturing exposes you to a great deal of liability (and other issues) and I'm not sure there is enough money in it to justify the hassle.

There are plenty of avenues available to protect yourself and your business, but you do need to ensure that your product is not faulty.

There are two basic approaches becoming a manufacturer:
1. "Go big or go home" - the common choice (your choice) would be going home.
2. Create a business model that is sustainable with small quantities of premium ammunition. - again, the most common choice is to just forget about it, and not even try.

There's no reason to less of anyone that isn't willing to try. It's just that some people are more willing to take the risks involved.

__________________"Such is the strange way that man works -- first he virtually destroys a species and then does everything in his power to restore it."

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